The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-05-12

L
several charges of shot into the rear
most of the elephants, though really l
thought them little to blame for not
moving on;' it was not for want of
will or pushing, as the angle of their
hind legs as they bored desperately into
the mass before them mutely testified!
At last the opposition gave way; the
Gunesh and others which were stopping
the way were borne onward into the
stockade by the pressure behind, and
the animals in the rear made renewed
exertions to get away from the terrible
sights and sounds so close behind them.
Only one elephant broke back; she
careered through the men, who escaped
| in the most marvellous manner; in
her terror she went through the fire.
lines, most unusual proceeding for an
elephant. She unfortunately killed
man on the surround some two miles
from the stockade, after which no more
was seen of her.
When I saw the elephants struggling
before the gate never believed that so
many QS6 as it turned out) could by
any possibility get into stockade 2l5
feet in circumference. The area was
then less than that of circle of SINH
lar circumference. as our stockades
have thirteen straight sides of fifteen
feet each. and the gate side of twenty
feet. We never expected our stockades
would hold over one hundred elephants;
sixty-fiye was the greatest number we
had ever impounded before, though I
must say they had plenty of room when
the resistance was overcome and the
final struggle to get into the stockade
began. The thing seemed impossible
after seeing the elephants half covering
a hillside or trooping along in single
file. One wave to the man who stood
over the gate rope with his axe, and the
ponderous gate came down on the backs
of the last few elephants, and as they
struggled from under it, and it fell into
position, it was quickly lashed by many
willing hands.
Immediately everybody went to work
to strengthen the stockade. 1t was
never really in danger, but we made
assurance doubly sure. A supple
mental stockade was at once commenced
by barricading off twenty yards of the
space between the guiding palisades
outside the gate. The elephants were
pounded at one p. M, but it was not until
$50 p. IN. that all was ready. We then
hauled up to the gate and relieved them
from the Black Hole-like confinement
of the stockade by admitting them into
the new one 1t was filled at once, but
really the crowd in the first stockade
! hardly seemed decreased. Early next
morning we shut off some thirty five ele.
plants in the supplemental stockade by
. closing the gate, and the tame elephants
were then admitted, and by evening
had secured this lot and removed anC
tied them up in the forest near. A
night the gate between the stoekade.
was again raised to give the remainder
!. ! room, and wild plantain trees ant
: other succulent cooling fodder were
supplied to them. By next morning WI
had followed out two tree trunks TWEEN
ty feet long, and pushed their end
through the timbers of the stockade
!, and by keeping men with buckets carry
! ing water from the Ganol stream, which
| flowed within few yards of the stock
ade. we supplied the thirsty animals
!, , with plenty of cold, clear mountain
, , water, for which they seemed hearth.
. . thankful, and which in addition to drink
= ing they showered over their bodies
For the seventy-nine elephants the mel
: earned 245 rupees as a present anon;
about seventy of them. On the thir'
> day, the 18th, the last of the elephant
J was removed, and the whole numbe
tied in large clearing in the fores
: near. Here they are now before me a
: I write, and in camp with them ar
: numerous tame elephants. The ele
: plants being loosened and taken t
9 water, struggling at their picket, Q
a = standing in dignified silence with thic
:, cables round their necks and legs
u anchoring them fore and aft betwee
> trees, form a scene which ought to b
s painted. In few days they will b
marched down to the low country i
u squads by easy stages. l need hardl
e say that such a capture as 1856 elephant
= was never made before, and we ascrih
:. ~ our luck to the presence of lady {
:. the drive, and to this being the jubile
y year. intended to roll large bowlde
's into the stockade by the help of OF
= tame elephants, and to have an inscril
~ ton cut on it, recording the event {
% this unprecedented capture in tn
y fiftieth year of her Majesty's reign
- Pail Mall Gazette.
e. Oranges, according to Mr.. Harri
rs of the Baulkham hills, can be exporte
Of from New South Wales to Englan
e. with fair chance of profit, durin
q. May, June and July. Having, as
tn grower tried the experiment he est